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Winners and Losers in the New Tax Law (Including #MeToo)

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March 16th, 2018

On Dec. 20 Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA), and President Trump signed it shortly after. This law, most of which will become effective on Jan. 1, dramatically changes our tax environment. New financial planning strategies will emerge in the coming months and years.

Who wins?

Certainly, the biggest beneficiaries of this legislation are corporations with high effective tax rates, because the corporate rate is dropping from 35% to 21%. Certain pass-through businesses will also see major reductions. Some LLCs, partnerships, S Corps, and sole proprietors will be able to deduct 20% of their qualified business income. Essentially, they will be paying taxes on only 80% of their revenue.

Even #MeToo found its way into TCJA. In the past, businesses could deduct settlements paid for sexual harassment and sexual abuse claims. But now no deduction will be allowed for settlements that are tied to a nondisclosure agreement. That is probably a win for those victims who are more likely to be able to tell their stories.